Caring for cat in weeks after hip replacement

[FutureMarchionessOfVidal]

Has anyone had to deal with this? If so, do you have any tips?

Obviously I am hoping to have help from partner and sons, but partner does not live with me and sons are often away etc- plus I don’t want to rely on any of them too much.

I am most worried about bending over to feed. Maybe one option would be to get the noble beast used to dining on the kitchen table in advance? And to put his litter tray on a table somewhere?

Not sure how to manage cat flap though- I usually shut him in at night.

I am in my mid 50s so this is a bit depressing! My mother did not have a hip replacement until 80 ☹️.

I would just explain your worries to your family and get them to help you.

When I had a very bad back, I put the food on a low filing cabinet and made steps with plastic boxes. (The cat had an arthritic hip!) Our cat flap can be programmed to let them out from 6.30am until 10pm. I guess you'd have to make sure they were in. Can you get a programmable microchip cat flap?

I fell and broke my hip (mid 50's), needed a hip replacement but didn't have opportunity to pre-plan! The cat's were fine!

Admittedly. the litter tray didn't get scooped out every time they used it, but essentials like food, water and cat flap I was able to do bending from the waist and not crouching down. If the food is on the table or worktop they will soon get up there for it when they are hungry, but I just filled the bowls on the table if necessary and then plonked the bowl on the floor. I had to rely on my husband for the few days I was actually in hospital, but the cats survived, seemingly unscathed 😊

I was going to ask how old your cat is to need a hip replacement.

I did. So here are my top tips:
Make sure all the food and bits are countertop height. For a while let the cat come up there to eat. Moving around from the counter to the sink is fine. If it gives you the ick put a tablecloth thing on the countertop.

Not the first week but quite quickly you will develop a technique where you will bend forward but your operated leg goes out behind you like a ballet dancer.

(As an aside make sure you have a grabber, long handled shoe horn and sock aid, you can get them off Amazon).

Thank you so much for these useful tips- a timed cat flap would be so useful anyway!

And oh dear yes I do see I gave the impression he was the one having the hip replacement! (Is that even a thing? A cat hip replacement? Tiny artificial joints?)

I had a cataract operation, not allowed to bend over, used a low table to feed cat who adapted very well and was a bit nonplussed when we didn’t need it any more.